STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — New Yorkers without health insurance will have the opportunity to enroll through the end of 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.
State officials extended the period in which uninsured New Yorkers can apply for coverage through NY State of Health — the state’s insurance marketplace — or directly through insurers.
Previously, the deadline had been extended through Sept. 15 as the state continues to provide services through the coronavirus pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over and it’s more important than ever for New Yorkers to have access to high-quality, affordable health insurance,” Cuomo said.
On Wednesday, the governor said New York’s statewide COVID-19 infection rate had dipped back below 1% after exceeding that benchmark earlier in the week.
Only .87% of the 75,087 tests reported to the state on Tuesday returned positive results, and in New York City the infection rate was about .8%, according to a media release from Cuomo’s office.
“Our numbers continue to remain low, thanks to the hard work of New Yorkers, who rose to the occasion and ultimately flattened the curve,” Cuomo said. “We have been calibrating our reopening based on real-time data, and we will continue to make decisions based on science and facts, because this thing is not over.”
New Yorkers who enroll in qualified health plans by October 15, 2020 will have a choice of coverage start date of either October 1, 2020 or November 1, 2020, those enrolling between October 16 and December 15, 2020 will have a choice of coverage start date of November 1 or December 1, 2020, and those enrolling between December 16 and December 31, 2020 would get a January 1, 2020, according to a media release.
“New York has resources available to help those who need coverage during this difficult time, and anyone who doesn’t currently have health insurance, regardless of the reason, should visit NY State of Health and enroll today,” Cuomo said.
